One of the things Oiler fans should look for this summer is massive overhaul and improvement on the blue. One of the key indicators may be where Oscar Klefbom ends up this fall. If he's in Edmonton as a top 6D, it'll be very hard to argue the rebuild is over and the turn north secure. Should he start in OKC? Best for player, best for team.

At age 20, Tom Poti was playing defense for Boston University in the NCAA. The next season, he was an NHL rookie with the Edmonton Oilers. He was so good with the puck that Poti made the jump, but he had major issues defensively and never did develop into the player expected when he arrived in the NHL.

Part of the problem for Poti was he'd never had to play in a game where there were men more talented; that changed in a quick hurry when he arrived in the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers current blue features young Justin Schultz, who at age 22 made his debut in the NHL this season. Although it's clear that he's an outstanding talent, it's also true that the learning curve is a steep one even for a highly touted prospect like Schultz.

THE KIDS KEEP ON ARRIVING!

In the case of Oscar Klefbom, there's an added issue: injury. First, his most recent injury in the fall was serious.

Ryan Dittrick: Back on Oct. 9 in a Swedish Elite League game vs. Vaxjo, Klefbom was nudged from behind with what he deemed to be a “dirty hit,” sending him heavily into the boards. On the six-hour, through-the-night bus ride home to Karlstad, the defenceman experienced bleeding in the surrounding muscle and required the use of a sling.

All is well now according to reports but the young man hasn't played in months and has lost some valuable development time. The prudent thing would be for the organization to send him to OKC and wait for him to force his way up the depth chart, possibly earning a callup for an injury replacement or struggling regular.

I think Craig MacTavish put the Klefbom situation into perspective recently when discussing improving the defense.

MacT: "Klefbom is a guy everybody is anxiously awaiting to come into our lineup. It's always dangerous to have too high of expectations for a young player, but he's a very complete player for such a young player, so I think he's going to really help back there"

That's a very reasonable take, one that suggests he's going to have an impact, but also saying immediate results are unlikely.

IT WORKED FOR BRODIN

Klefbom (above) was a teammate of Jonas Brodin back in Farjestad, and Brodin's impressive NHL debut has some believing that Oscar can do the same thing. The problem with that idea is this: Brodin was paired with Ryan Suter, one of the NHL's best defensemen. I've read in several places (mostly Minnesota, though) that Brodin inspired the Suter turnaround this season. However, this graph indicates that Suter is far more effective without Brodin than with--which makes sense based on their experience and ability.

Still, that's an excellent pairing--veteran blue with rookie D--but surely if Edmonton acquired a "Ryan Suter" type they would pair him with Schultz the younger--still a developing talent and in need of mentoring.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

In the first installment of this series (Hartikainen--A False Spring?) we discussed the possibility that Harski doesn't deliver enough offense to merit NHL employment. The issue with Klefbom is twofold--experience and readiness--but the long term answer is far more promising.

There is little doubt Oscar Klefbom will have an NHL career. Only injury or a trade will keep him from being an Oiler.

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

The quality of the comments have dropped precipitously with the anti- and pro-DSF forces filling the comments with what amounts to spam. What I enjoyed most about this site in the past was the high calibre discussion that followed an article. Now...there is just too much nonsense to sort through to follow a serious in-comment discussion. Very disappointing.

Considering they also have Jordie Benn and Brendan Dillon in the system, they look like they'll be a force in the future.

Thanks for sharing. But most knowledgable hockey people consider that a pretty middling group of prospects. Connauton is from Edmonton, played for Spruce Grove. He was pretty decent in Tier 2 Junior, and we all thought he might have a pro career, but nothing about him suggests he'll be"a force" in the future. Depth Dman maybe. Oleksiak isn't as good as Martin Maricin, problems with footwork and speed with his large frame. May or may not make the jump. Jordie Benn? Come on DSF, he'e 26 and played a total of 29 NHL games. He has career minor leaguer written all over him. You're mistaking him for his brother Jamie.

Anyway, you're welcome to your opinion such as it is. But anybody with any hockey knowledge would rate the Oiler D prospects (Klefbom, Marincin, Mucil, Gernat, and who knows, maybe Darnell Nurse) a much better group overall.

And by the way, Texas and OKC are tied 1-1 after 2 games heading back to OKC. Both games were 2-1. "Killing" the Barons? Give your head a shake.

The quality of the comments have dropped precipitously with the anti- and pro-DSF forces filling the comments with what amounts to spam. What I enjoyed most about this site in the past was the high calibre discussion that followed an article. Now...there is just too much nonsense to sort through to follow a serious in-comment discussion. Very disappointing.

Agreed. DSF and NewAgeSys are different types of Mosquitos that make it less enjoyable to come to ON. Please, is there some way we can add ignore or hide buttons?

I am all for the spirit of open minded discussion, as there have been several posters on ON who I, or others, may have had different ideas, but the collegial give and take can be great for pushing the discussion forward in a meaningful way. Along with the quality of writers, thats what has always been great about your site. DSF is simply a troll and his posts lead to shouting matches that are no different from spam - and a waste of my time.

I like the method of thumbs up/down on Freakonomics.com whereby the crowd can collectively police itself and much like graffiti artists, the trolls eventually leave when their work can't be seen by the masses.

Lets not forget Smid was a number 9 overall pick and Klefbom was 19 overall. Smid took 5 years to become an average defenseman so lets not get too high on Klefbom until he is making an impact at the NHL. The same people who are talking up Klefbom like he is a savior were saying the same thing about Anton Lander two years ago. Saying how he was part of the untouchable 5. Aka Bob Stauffer.

"One of the things Oiler fans should look for this summer is massive overhaul and improvement on the blue."

I hope you are right, but how is this possible, a massive overhaul and improvement? Obviously, there are a couple of promising defencemen on the farm and Klefboom. This may equate to a bit of an overhaul, but not a massive overhaul and improvement. A massive improvement would mean the replacement of four or five of the current D, with just Smid, Petry and J. Schultz returning.

The NHL UFA pool of D is very shallow and probably expensive. Where do you expect MacTavish will find this talent?

How far along J.Schultz might be will determine Klefboms fate I suspect . Whom else we might acquire could leave him develop in AHL for a while . How fast can he adjust to NHL and N.American lifestyle ?

If I was allowed to cheat on my wife with one girl, it would be Christina Hendricks.

Oh yeah, The Bomb will start in OKC hopefully, but I think he will be in Edmonton in a short time making tasty passes to the kids. I remember Bobby Mac quoting scouts who said he makes a better first pass and is better skater the Larsson. I can't wait.

"One of the things Oiler fans should look for this summer is massive overhaul and improvement on the blue."

I hope you are right, but how is this possible, a massive overhaul and improvement? Obviously, there are a couple of promising defencemen on the farm and Klefboom. This may equate to a bit of an overhaul, but not a massive overhaul and improvement. A massive improvement would mean the replacement of four or five of the current D, with just Smid, Petry and J. Schultz returning.

The NHL UFA pool of D is very shallow and probably expensive. Where do you expect MacTavish will find this talent?

I think you start with Smid-Petry and Schultz the younger plus Nick Schultz. If the Oilers can add two defensemen to that group--real NHL defensemen--let's say Tim Gleason and Mark Streit--then that's a legit step up. I think the Oilers will have to make a trade, but the cap pressure for some of these teams may make some surprising names available.

Mr. Lowetide, could you make a series that looks into the differences between the way the Barons are run and the way the Oilers are run?

The Barons are in the second round for the second year in a row and have been given every chance to succeed as opposed to this gong show called "rebuild" for the last few years.

What say you?

The talent that OKC Barons have graduated (Petry, Schultz, Paajarvi, etc) will eventually do the same thing for the Oilers. The EIG dead zone for minor league development had a major impact, but they're coming back!

All I ask is they do.what they think is best for Klefbom's long term development next year. If they think he is ready for top 6 play, I have no problem with him playing here. If they think he is better playing some time in OKC than I would rather see Barker back than rushing him. I think Klefbom is by far the most important prospect they have and they can't afford the mistakes they have made on guys like Lander and Tuebert. I sure hope someone's job is to properly communicate to him what expectations are.

I think Hall, Eberle and Schultz should be playin in the AHL playoffs right now instead of being benched at the worlds by mr.ruff! woof! They could practice growin their playoff beards instead of sleepin with swedish escorts (which I presume is the main reason NHLers love to go over there)

Would I love to see Shea in Oil Silks. I read on another post earlier today the Yak City could be in play for Weber.

Trading away future Pavel Bure/ Alex Ovechkin type guy will make me puke.. Yak City will rule this league in a couple of years... Possibly as early as next season'

Yak City goes nowhere! Not even for Weber, we will groom our own defence no need to give up a future 35+ goal scorer...people who make proposals like that are morons or jealous fans from other teams (also morons)..Yak is a 1st overall pick..1st overalls are special, like that hot blonde dragonborn chick from Game of Thrones special, they are,irreplacable damnit!

Would I love to see Shea in Oil Silks. I read on another post earlier today the Yak City could be in play for Weber.

Trading away future Pavel Bure/ Alex Ovechkin type guy will make me puke.. Yak City will rule this league in a couple of years... Possibly as early as next season'

Yak City goes nowhere! Not even for Weber, we will groom our own defence no need to give up a future 35+ goal scorer...people who make proposals like that are morons or jealous fans from other teams (also morons)..Yak is a 1st overall pick..1st overalls are special, like that hot blonde dragonborn chick from Game of Thrones special, they are,irreplacable damnit!

Correct me if I'm wrong , but isn't this new gutting same as template we were drawn into four years ago ? I notice they do not call it that this time , however . Will LowMac succeed where LowTam had failed ?

Risk versus Reward. Is there any reason to risk a potentially very good NHL defenders confidence and development? Trust the minor league coach for a year. Kleffbom can be called up for a taste and/or the playoffs if the Oil are there.